John Perry
Question:76 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions the Government has taken to call for an end to sanctions against Iraq from which millions have died; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4301/01]
Written Answers. - Sanctions Against Iraq.
The humanitarian situation being faced by the people of Iraq is of major concern to the Government. We are taking every opportunity at the United Nations and elsewhere to hold discussions on this complex issue with the various parties, including other Security Council members and key United Nations personnel. In these discussions we are stressing the urgent need to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people, especially children, and to greatly improve the conditions of the general population who are directly affected by the implementation of the UN sanctions.
Our approach to this issue, as a member of the Security Council, is informed both by the need to address the human suffering and to ensure that Iraq complies with the decisions of the Security Council. All countries are required under the UN charter to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council and Ireland stands by this obligation.
The major problem is not one of revenue to fund the purchase of needed supplies. Instead it is a problem of clearing supplies contracted under the oil for food programme. There have been unacceptable hold-ups due to the inadequate level of co-operation by the Iraqi authorities and the workings of the sanctions committee. It is our view that the Security Council should take greater account of the humanitarian situation in its further deliberations on this matter. This is the most useful course to follow.
Our policy is to advocate more significant reductions in the number of refusals and delays by the sanctions committee in clearing supplies contracted under the oil for food programme. I have previously informed the House that the Taoiseach and I raised this issue with the former US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, in Washington last March, and I would urge the Bush administration to accelerate the progress made in reducing the delays on needed medicines and spare parts for Iraqi infrastructure. In any event the new administration is likely to review existing US foreign policy positions.
Acting under the provisions of Resolution 1284, the Council introduced a streamlined procedure for the approval of humanitarian supplies last March. Under this procedure, $2 billion worth of contracts for the food, educational, medical, agricultural, water and sanitation sectors were approved on a basis of notification to the sanctions committee. A much enhanced allocation for spare parts for the ailing Iraqi oil indus try, a doubling of the budget to $1.2 billion was also approved. The Security Council has since built on these provisions, most recently in Resolution 1330, which extends the range of sectors requiring notification only. This progress needs to be developed further.
The Iraqi authorities have yet to co-operate adequately with the oil for food programme. For example, Iraqi failure to process orders has led to $1.5 billion worth of goods being placed on hold and Iraqi attempts to levy a surcharge on oil exports recently led to a temporary suspension of these exports. The Iraqi Government is also responsible for diversion of revenue through its large scale oil smuggling.
There is a growing international awareness of the need to ensure that economic sanctions, which are the alternative to the use of armed force, accomplish their intended objectives. A working group of the Security Council has been examining the general question of the effectiveness of UN sanctions regimes. Its report is expected to stress the need to take much more careful account of humanitarian aspects. This should influence the debate about the effect of sanctions in a constructive direction.
The Iraqi Government's refusal to co-operate with the UN commissions appointed to verify the dismantling of Iraq's programme to acquire weapons of mass destruction is the basis for the continued imposition of the sanctions. The ten years since the Gulf War is too long a period of time for the stand-off to persist at such a dreadful human cost.
Security Council Resolution 1284 provides for the suspension of sanctions in return for Iraqi co-operation with a new disarmament supervisory commission (UNMOVIC) and compliance with the conditions imposed by the Security Council. I wish to see the necessary co-operation from Baghdad to allow concrete progress to be made on the suspension, and ultimate lifting, of the sanctions. This would be a major step towards the return of Iraq to its rightful place in the international community.
The Government has also directly addressed the humanitarian issues. A grant of £100,000 by Ireland Aid to the international committee of the Red Cross was made last November to address the rehabilitation of health, water and sanitation facilities in Iraq.